Via the St. Croix River Association:

Flooding. Pollution. A changing climate. Big problems require big solutions, and the next generation of environmental leaders are already tackling these topics head on. 

The virtual 2021 St. Croix Youth Summit, hosted by the St. Croix River Association on Earth Day (April 22) from 8:30 AM-2:00 PM will feature local and international youth leaders and professionals in a dynamic conference for middle and high school students. Attendees will learn about the environmental issues and challenges facing the St. Croix River watershed and learn how they can take action to make a difference.

Featuring a choice of six environmental science workshops, a conservation career panel, and exhibits, the conference will kick off with a keynote presentation from author Natalie Warren (Hudson Bay Bound: Two Women, One Dog, Two Thousand Miles to the Arctic, UMN Press) recounting her journey as one of the first two women to canoe 2,000 miles from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay. 

Youth leaders will take center stage during two panels, including a live session by international youth activists and Re-Earth Initiative members Theresa Rose Sebastian, Fatima-Zahrae Tarib, and Nala Amirah discussing their roots in climate activism, the work of the Re-Earth Initiative, and the importance of conserving water and its role in climate justice. A local panel of high school students will offer attendees an opportunity to connect with their peers and learn what they can do in their communities.

This empowering conference is free for students and $25 for adults, and sponsored by the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, MidWestOne Bank, and Xcel Energy. 

Sign up by April 9 for the chance to win an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Kit for your classroom.